The accident occurred this afternoon at Anlilai Coal Mine in Pu'an county. Some miners managed to escape safely, but an estimated 40 others were trapped underground.
Rescue work is underway and the number of trapped miners is being verified, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The mine, located in Louxia township of Pu'an county, has an annual production capacity of 210,000 tonnes.
